A pair of 6-6 regular season squads clash on Thursday night when the American Athletic Conference South Florida Bulls take on the Atlantic Coast Conference Syracuse Orange.
The Bulls head into the game +3 underdogs versus an Orange squad that picked up a quarterback over the weekend. Ohio State signal-caller Kyle McCord will transfer to Syracuse.
Will McCord’s announcement affect the Orange? Can the Bulls get it done as the dog?
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are the favorites in the NCAAF odds in this game. Syracuse is listed at -2. The total for this affair is set at 58.5 points.
2023 Boca Raton Bowl Odds: South Florida vs Syracuse | MyBookie Bowl Game Preview
South Florida Bulls vs Syracuse Orange
ATS Odds: Syracuse -2
Money line Odds: South Florida Line +130 / Syracuse Line -150
Over/Under Odds: 61.5
Thursday, Dec 21 at 8:00 pm ET
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL | ESPN / ESPN+
South Florida Bulls Analysis
It’s rare to handicap a team based on their final regular season game, but in this case, the South Florida Bulls didn’t hit their stride until their final matchup.
Facing an overmatched Charlotte 49ers team, South Florida played their best game of the season in their final contest, drilling the 49ers 48-14. No doubt, the Bulls were supposed to win, but that’s okay.
Teams that are supposed to win don’t always put together complete games. In this case, South Florida did. The defense held Charlotte QB Trexler Ivey to 13-of-22 for 98 yards. South Florida picked Ivey off twice. On offense, South Florida was unstoppable. Byrum Brown threw for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Bulls rushed for 188 yards with 104 coming from Michael Dukes.
If South Florida carries momentum from the win over Charlotte into this, watch out because this is in a way this is a home game for the Bulls.
South Florida Bulls Offensive Averages
- Total Yards: 456.8
- Passing Yards: 270.7
- Rushing Yards: 186.2
- Points Scored: 30.8
- Turnovers: 9
South Florida Bulls Offensive Starters
- WR Jaden Alexis
- WR Yusuf Terry
- WR Sean Atkins
- LT Donovan Jennings
- LG Cole Skinner
- OC Mike Lofton
- RG Zane Herring
- RT Derek Bowman
- TE Weston Wolff
- QB Byrum Brown
- RB Nay’Quan Wright
South Florida Bulls Defensive Averages
- Total Yards: 455.3
- Passing Yards: 301.3
- Rushing Yards: 154.0
- Points Scored: 34.9
- Takeaways: 12
South Florida Bulls Defensive Starters
- DE Tramel Logan
- NT Doug Blue-Eli
- DT Rashad Cheney
- EDGE D.J. Harris
- MLB Mac Harris
- WLB Jhalyn Shuler
- LCB Aamaris Brown
- SS Logan Berryhill
- FS Jaelen Stokes
- RCB Tavin Ward
- NB Taquan Evans
Syracuse Orange Analysis
The Orange started their season off great when winning their first 4 games. But then, once Syracuse started ACC play, things fell apart. The Orange lost 6-of-8 conference games.
Syracuse beat Pittsburgh 28-13 and then took down Wake Forest 35-31. But other than that, the Orange could do nothing. However, even though Syracuse stumbled their way through the regular season, the Orange can end it on a high note against a South Florida team they can beat.
Syracuse should also be extra motivated because Kyle McCord is coming to town. McCord ran one of the top offenses in the nation while at Ohio State. Syracuse and their fan base will want to welcome McCord with a huge victory over the Bulls in their bowl game.
Syracuse Orange Offensive Averages
- Total Yards: 358.6
- Passing Yards: 174.4
- Rushing Yards: 184.2
- Points Scored: 25.5
- Turnovers: 7
Syracuse Orange Offensive Starters
- WR Damien Alford
- WR Umari Hatcher
- WR Donovan Brown
- LT Enrique Cruz Jr.
- LG Joe Cruz
- OC J’Onre Reed
- RG Christopher Bleich
- RT Mark Petry
- TE Dan Villari
- QB Garrett Shrader
- RB LeQuint Allen
Syracuse Orange Defensive Averages
- Total Yards: 378.2
- Passing Yards: 231.1
- Rushing Yards: 147.1
- Points Scored: 23.8
- Takeaways: 9
Syracuse Orange Defensive Starters
- DE Tramel Logan
- NT Doug Blue-Eli
- DT Rashad Cheney
- EDGE D.J. Harris
- MLB Mac Harris
- WLB Jhalyn Shuler
- LCB Aamaris Brown
- SS Logan Berryhill
- FS Jaelen Stokes
- RCB Tavin Ward
- NB Taquan Evans
South Florida vs Syracuse Final Betting Prediction
The odds make zero sense in this. South Florida plays in Boca Raton. Boca Raton is just 3 hours and 38 minutes from Tampa where South Florida resides.
So the Bulls will be the home teams in this game. Not only that, but although McCord will play in a Syracuse Orange uniform next season, he won’t play in orange on Thursday night. That’s bad news for Syracuse and their fans because starting quarterback Garrett Shrader is out due to an injury.
Syracuse must also play this game with an interim coach, Nunzio Campanile. The Orange fired Dino Babers with a game remaining on his contract and have hired Fran Brown, Georgia’s former defensive backs coach.
Also, the Bulls have a massive edge at quarterback. Bynum Brown has serious skills and will carve up a Syracuse defense that was much worse than the averages suggested due to the easy first four games on the schedule.
The Bulls should score over 30 in this game. The more motivated squad with the better quarterback prevails. Back South Florida on the money line.
NCAAF Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida Bulls +130 | Bet South Florida vs Syracuse Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
South Florida Bulls Last 5
| Date | OPP | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 11/25/23 | vs CLT | W48-14 |
| 11/17/23 | @ UTSA | L49-21 |
| 11/11/23 | vs TEM | W27-23 |
| 11/4/23 | @ MEM | L59-50 |
| 10/21/23 | @ CONN | W24-21 |
Syracuse Orange Last 5
| Date | OPP | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 11/25/23 | vs WAKE | W35-31 |
| 11/18/23 | @ GT | L31-22 |
| 11/11/23 | vs PITT | W28-13 |
| 11/3/23 | vs BC | L17-10 |
| 10/26/23 | @ VT | L38-10 |
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2023 NCAA College Football National Championship Odds to Win
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Michigan Wolverines | -200 |
| Washington Huskies | +170 |
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Who is Playing in the Boca Raton Bowl? | Liberty Flames vs Toledo Rockets Betting Preview
On Tuesday, Mid-American Conference squad Toledo takes on 23-ranked Liberty in the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl. Liberty must play without head coach Hugh Freeze, who is now Auburn’s HC, which might explain why Toledo is a 5-point chalk. Can the Rockets add insult to injury by squelching the Flames? Or will Liberty add an exclamation point to a terrific season with a big win? See below for College Football Bowl Odds, analysis, and a free pick for Liberty versus Toledo.
College Football 2022 Boca Raton Bowl Betting Preview for #23 Liberty versus Toledo Rockets
When: Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 pm ET
Where: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
TV / Streaming: ESPN / ESPN+
ATS Odds: Toledo -5
Money line Odds: Liberty +170 / Toledo -205
Over/Under Odds: 54
Why bet on Liberty versus Toledo?
With or without Freeze, Liberty is still the team that went 8-4 during the regular season. The nation’s 23-ranked squad lost to Wake Forest by a point, beat BYU 41-14 and bested Arkansas 21-19.
Those are three wins over Power Conference schools that most expected should have dominated Liberty. Not only that, but the Flames average 179 rushing yards per game, which means they should keep the ball from Toledo’s offense.
Liberty Flames Offensive Averages
Total Yards: 401.0
Passing Yards: 222.0
Rushing Yards: 179.0
Points Scored: 28.3
Turnovers: 11
Liberty Flames Defensive Averages
Total Yards: 345.2
Passing Yards: 201.2
Rushing Yards: 144.0
Points Scored: 24.9
Takeaways: 14
Why bet on Toledo versus Liberty?
Toledo’s offense is terrific. But it’s the defense that has made huge strides this season. The Rockets allow 331.9 yards per game, which ranks twenty-fourth in the nation.
Not only that, but Toledo beat a quality team like Ohio to win the MAC Championship. Earlier in the season, the Rockets almost pulled off the upset victory over San Diego State in a 17-14 loss.
Toledo Rockets Offensive Averages
Total Yards: 405.9
Passing Yards: 228.2
Rushing Yards: 177.8
Points Scored: 32.1
Turnovers: 10
Toledo Rockets Defensive Averages
Total Yards: 331.9
Passing Yards: 185.5
Rushing Yards: 146.5
Points Scored: 25.5
Takeaways: 12
Flames vs Rockets Relevant Trends‘
Flames are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss
Liberty is 5-0 ATS versus a team with a winning record
Under is 4-1 in the Flames’ last 5 non-conference games
Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games
Toledo is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 bowl games
Over is 10-1 in the Rockets’ last 11 games following a straight up win
23-Liberty Flames vs Toledo Rockets Final Betting Prediction
Toledo opened a -1.5 favorite. So far, all the money has gone to the Rockets. The reason?
The Flames are reeling. Ever since the 21-19 upset victory over Arkansas, Liberty has played like a bad Division II team.
Connecticut beat Liberty 36-33 as a +13.5 underdog. In the Flames next game, Liberty fell 22-23 to VA Tech as a -11 favorite.
Those two losses stung. But nothing Liberty has done this season was as bad as losing 49-14 to New Mexico State.
But before jumping down Liberty’s throat for losing to NMSU, it’s important to note that the Aggies finished their season going 5-1 against the spread.
Not only that, but Liberty has already hired a new coach, former Coastal Carolina HC Jamey Chadwell. Knowing Chadwell is arriving in the spring, Liberty’s players should step it up. The Flames are a bad bet at +1.5. But at +5, Liberty is the play.
NCAAF Boca Raton Bowl Pick: Liberty Flames +5
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